October 05, 2009

Well after this last week of 2009 Cubs baseball, a week that included the double-header sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, the D-Backs taking the last series, and even the awesome first homer by Sam Fuld, there's really only one thing to do now: have a giant martini.

Go out for it - could be Ruth's Chris, could be Jake's Pub - but make sure the place is worthy.

Don't have it on the rocks.

Don't have it silly.

"Apple", "Cran", "Dirty"...none of these modifiers should be used when ordering the martini I'm talking about.

Never order off a "martini" menu.

You can order "vodka shaken with ice and served up in a martini glass", but that's all it is and that's how you should order that drink.

A martini is made with gin.

My favorite is the original Bombay in the clear bottle with that weird woman on the label.

If you like, you can add dry vermouth, and a twist (which would be lemon), or an olive.

But that's where it stops.

There should be no toying, at all, with this drink.

Only respect.

One time I was lucky enough to have one at the bar in the Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel in San Francisco.

The bar, the paneling, the tables, everything, I was told, was made from a single giant redwood tree (of course that would have been a looong time ago).

You don't want to be a dope in here.

The bartender was very distinguished and older - a man of the world.

I asked for a Bombay up with an olive.

He shook it with dignity and reserved panache, he poured it in the properly chilled glass, he set it down in front of me and turned his back.

October 04, 2009

If somebody said, "Probably there's a catcher in the middle of his minor league career who can switch to pitcher and come be a starter for the Cubs", you'd give them a lollypop and a pat on the head, right?

The story of this kid Randy Wells is as cool as it is improbable, and ending his rookie season with a 10 strike-out performance at Wrigley Field just puts an exclamation point on the whole deal.

I've been trying to think of what good happened this season, and there really isn't much there to talk about.

Derrek Lee's return to superstarstratosphere, the Bobby Scales made for tv movie thing, the Cubs finally getting a new owner...then I come to a stop. The only other good stories are really bitter: bye bye Sam Zell and Milton Bradley.

So...Randy Wells.

When he first came up well, what can I say - I'm a trained Cub fan. I figured him for another Jae Kuk Ryu, or Ryan O'Malley. Home grown and really good and the Cubs, you don't usually hear those things together in the same sentence. (Well, there was this guy Geo last year, but you know what I mean.)

When Wells pitched like a stud early but wasn't getting the wins (shocker: lack of run support!), I figured he was just gonna be a shame, but still nothing special.

Now, wow. His whole life has changed and that's really good for you and me.

An honest to goodness starter coming out of the blue and into Cubby blue - just the best story you could hope for.

Okay, today is the last game of the season. Ryan Dempster coming off his complete game shutout of the Pirates vs. lefty Doug Davis.

This is always a sad day for Cub fans - you'll hear Pat and Ron and Len and Bob all say their thank yous to the crews and goodbyes til next year and all that.

But you gotta watch, right?

And begin the next chapter.

I always think I'm gonna stop doing this, but nah - not yet.

Thank you for all the comments and connections thru the year including (and I hate doing this because surely I'll forget a number of you): Bob, Bud, Cire, DB, Donna, Flack, homeboyabroad, Jake's Pub, James Finn Garner, Jamie, J Cerebral, Jenkins, Justin, Kerry, Larry, Lizz, Maria, Mark Alan, Mark Carlson, Rich Beckman, Ryen, Sarah, Sarah Spain, Steveosama, TLFC, Rob at The Cub Reporter, and all the blogs in the blogroll to the right. I think I tried to tell her, but Cubbie Julie at LOHO was the first person in the community to sort of accept me and answer my stupid questions when I was a baby. Thank you.

Cubby-Blue

is an art blog following the Chicago Cubs with cartoons, gifs, animations, and illustrations by me, Tim Souers.
I began the illustrations in 2003 - you can find the links to the 2003 - 2006 seasons below.
2007 - present is in the regular archives.
Feel free to contact me at CubbyDashBlue(at)gmail(dot)com.
Thanks for visiting, and go Cubs.

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